An archetypal play

Oedipus Rex has been an archetypal play in the world classic literature for nearly 2,500 years.Long considered the greatest Greek tragedy, it has a sympathetic protagonist, a crushing climax, inspirational poetry, and a wealth of meaningful themes. The play remains on the very short list of exceptionally and undeniably great world literature masterpieces and is taught all over the world.

An archetypal play

Oedipus Rex has been an archetypal play in the world classic literature for nearly 2,500 years.Long considered the greatest Greek tragedy, it has a sympathetic protagonist, a crushing climax, inspirational poetry, and a wealth of meaningful themes. The play remains on the very short list of exceptionally and undeniably great world literature masterpieces and is taught all over the world.

The Summary

Shortly after Oedipus was born, his father, King Laius of Thebes, learned from an oracle that he, Laius, was doomed to perish by the hand of his own son, and so ordered his wife Jocasta to kill the infant. However, neither she nor her servant could bring themselves to kill him and he was abandoned to starvation. There he was found and brought up by a shepherd, before being taken in and raised in the court of the childless King Polybus of Corinth as if he had been his own son.

Undettered by rumors that he was not the biological son of the king, Oedipus consulted an oracle who foretold that he would marry his own mother and kill his own father. Desperate to avoid this fate, and believing Polybus and Merope to be his true parents, Oedipus left Corinth. On the road to Thebes, he met Laius, his real father, and, unaware of each other’s true identities, they quarreled and Oedipus pride led him to murder Laius, fulfilling part of the oracle’s prophecy.

Later, he solved the riddle of the Sphinx and his reward was the hand of Queen Jocasta (his biological mother) and the crown of the city of Thebes. The prophecy was thus fulfilled, although none of the main characters were aware of it at this point.

The elements of Greek Tragedy

Life and death, destined love, war, the futility of human nature, the battle of humans to take their destiny in their own hands, uncertainty of the inevitable truths of life. Those were the exact themes in Greek Tragedy, as drama was well rooted in the world realities of the time and was created after human character.

In Greek mythology, human life was in the hands of gods. Fate was pre-decided and could not be escaped at any cost. Oedipus and so many others, tried very hard to deceive the destiny, but the cage of tragic and cruel fate was very much tricky. In spite of all preventions taken by them, they were led to the final destiny which was pre-decided.

This is why Oedipus is considered an unsurpassed classic of antiquity and a legend that lived on for 2500 years. A life drama that could be equally valid and reflect a contemporary human soul and theatrical patterns.

The elements of Greek Tragedy

Life and death, destined love, war, the futility of human nature, the battle of humans to take their destiny in their own hands, uncertainty of the inevitable truths of life. Those were the exact themes in Greek Tragedy, as drama was well rooted in the world realities of the time and was created after human character.

In Greek mythology, human life was in the hands of gods. Fate was pre-decided and could not be escaped at any cost. Oedipus and so many others, tried very hard to deceive the destiny, but the cage of tragic and cruel fate was very much tricky. In spite of all preventions taken by them, they were led to the final destiny which was pre-decided.

This is why Oedipus is considered an unsurpassed classic of antiquity and a legend that lived on for 2500 years. A life drama that could be equally valid and reflect a contemporary human soul and theatrical patterns.

The Cast

Panagiotis Tarnaris is a graduate of Piraeus League Drama School and is working as an actor and drama game animator. He has participated in a variety of performances, including theatre performances for children. He has been awarded for the concept and street performance at the 5 International Street Theatre Festival, with his work “My nationality, the color of the wind”. He teaches drama in theatre workshops in Chalkida and Piraeus.

Nikos Christofillakis is a graduate of “Iasmos” School of Drama. He has attended the So7 Seminar with Froso Korou and Dimitris Kouroupalis for two years, as well as acting seminars with Manousos Manousakis. He has also attended a 5-month seminar and musical seminar at the New York Acting Studio. He has participated in professional theatrical performances, at the State Theater of Northern Greece (NTUA), the Theater Of De Machi, the Faust Theater, the Gloria Theater, the Theater of the Day, the theater of Porta and other theatrical stages. He has collaborated with Thanasis Sarantos and Giannis Demigitis in the show “The Winter Fairytale” directed by Thanassis Sarantos.

Nikos Stamatopoulos is a graduate of the Piraeus League Drama School. He has received special training as a dancer and singer and since 2000 he has been working in theatre, television and film, working with renowned directors. Since 2003 he has been teaching drama to children, teens and adults.

Nikitas Anastopoulos is a graduate of the Informatics Department at the University of Piraeus and “Archi” School of Drama. He is specialized in physical theatre and street theatre. He is a member of «Motus Terrae» theatre company and founding member of “Alogi” which represented Greece in XIII Biennale of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean, Puglia, Italy (2008). He collaborated with Lefteris Voyatzis (while teaching stilt walk at National Theatre), as an assistant director to Akyllas Karazisis (Athens and Epidaurus Festival). He had the leading role in the short film “It’s OK my friend” by Yolanda Markopoulou screening at Cannes Film Festival (2012). He has collaborated with Greek Deaf Theater as a trainer for deaf actors.

Yiannis Papathimnios is a graduate of Veaki Drama School. He has participated in many theatrical performances in theaters such as the Macedonian Theater, the Municipal District Theater of Veria, the Immortal Theater of Crete, the Peloponnesian Theater, the Municipal Theater of “Iliou”, the Municipal Theater of Ag. Anargyroi Theater, New Theater, Theater Idiomelo, Theater Suitcase, Theater Dimitris Rontiris. During his acting career he has been directed by Panos Glykofrides, Stelios Papadakis, Lambros Costopoulos, Christos Dathylidis, Giannis Karachisaridis, Christoforos Christofis, Michalis Bouchilis, Dimitris Exarchos and many others. He has participated in films and television series.

Tina Papakonstantinou is a graduate of St. Barbara’s Drama School “Iacovos Kambanelis». She has performed as an actor in theatrical productions in Athens and Berlin (The Equation, dir. Tatiana Kirhof, The secret of nature, dir. Stefi Theodotou, Land without Man, dir. Tzovana Sarti); in the films “Pandemic – all one” and “Royal Flush” short films, dir. Dimitris Piatas. She has appeared in Greek TV series “As long as I have you” (Skai TV), Crimes (AΝΤ1 TV) and the “Children’s News” (Skai TV). She has attended seminars and workshops on Ancient Drama and Improvisation.

Nikos Anastasopoulos studied theatre and acting next to renowned theatre personalities such as P. Katselis, Ch. Papadimoulis, N. Karra, M. Hors, G. Flerrie, F. Metaxopoulos, S. Spyratou and many more. He has collaborated with famous directors, choreographers and music composers like M. Theodorakis, G. Michailidis, A. Voutsinas, N. Kourkoulos, D. Potamitis, K. Kazakos, G. Kimoulis, R. Pateraki, G. Katsaros and V. Silinos. His 40-year career in theatre includes performances in the Greek National Theatre, in Regional Theatres across Greece, in Greek and foreign festivals. He has participated in numerous literature, drama, and educational TV shows. He is a member of the Hellenic Actors’ Union and International Theatre Institute.

Krisana Alefantinou is a graduate of “Modern Times” School of Drama and has also studied Industrial Design Engineering at the University of Western Macedonia (Kozani). She has been trained in physical theatre, dance and performance in Greece and Belgium. As an actor she has been collaborating with “One, Two, Three” theatre company performing in Greece and abroad.

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